Eight bodies found in plastic bags in Babahoyo, southwestern Ecuador, where eight people went missing on Sunday, according to police. Col. Galo Munoz, the area’s police chief, confirmed the discovery of the bodies on the outskirts of Babahoyo town.
The incident occurred amid a U.S.-backed military crackdown on organized crime gangs that have transformed Ecuador from one of South America’s safest countries into one of its deadliest. Interior Minister John Reimberg said a note at the scene suggested victims were targeted by Los Lobos gang in retaliation for clashes with rival Los Choneros outfit.
Two of the missing individuals were minors, according to Modesto Freire, state prosecutor in Milagro. Ecuador is a key transit point for cocaine from Colombia and Peru, leading to increased violence around ports like Guayaquil and Manta.
In January, police found six bodies near Guayaquil after a motorbike ride. In 2024-25, violent deaths in Ecuador reached record highs, with President Daniel Noboa imposing curfews and deploying the military to combat gang activity. The U.S. has also joined forces with Ecuadorian troops to dismantle criminal hubs along the coast.
In July 2025, Macías was extradited to the U.S., where he faces multiple charges of drug trafficking and firearms offenses.